Approaches - Biological

Question 1

Define genotype

Answer 1

Genetic codes for physical/ behavioural characteristics inherited from parents

Question 2

Define phenotype

Answer 2

The expression of the genetic characteristic, this can differ from genotype due to environmental effects

Question 3

What percentage of genes do MZ twins share?

Answer 3

100%

Question 4

What percentage of genes do DZ twins share?

Answer 4

50%

Question 5

What is a concordance rate?

Answer 5

it is the likelihood of one twin having the characteristic if the other twin has the characteristic (a measure of correlation).

Question 6

What is diathesis stress?

Answer 6

Suggesting a disorder is the result of the interaction between a pre-existing vulnerability (ie genetic genotype) and environmental stressors (i.e personal loss, abuse, drug use)

Question 7

What is evolution

Answer 7

The development of successive generations of natural organisms due to adaptation to the environment

Question 8

What is the theory of natural selection?

Answer 8

Darwin: Individuals in a species vary due to genetic differences. Variances most suited to the environment give a survival and reproductive advantage These genes are more likely to be passed to the next generation.

Question 9

What is the endocrine system

Answer 9

A chemical messaging system throughout the body. Releases hormones that enter the blood stream. Slower than the nervous system, but with longer lasting effects

Question 10

What is the pituitary gland?

Answer 10

Known as the master gland, controls the release of hormones from the other glands

Question 11

What is the adrenal gland?

Answer 11

Release adrenaline/ noradrenaline as part of the fight or flight response. Adrenaline increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels increasing blood flow and raising blood pressure which diverts blood away from the skin, kidneys and digestive system

Question 12

What is the reflex arc?

Answer 12

A collection of cells that transmit information from the source, decide responses and make the response happen

Question 13

What is the function of sensory neurons?

Answer 13

They send information from the sense to the brain

Question 14

What is the function of relay neurons?

Answer 14

They connect with other neurons, mostly found in the brain/CNS - they analyse sensations, interpreting meaning, deciding on responses. They are found between the sensory and motor neurons.

Question 15

What is the function of motor neurons?

Answer 15

Send messages along Axons from the brain to the muscles/ effectors

Question 16

What makes up the reflex arc?

Answer 16

Sensory neuron, relay neuron and motor neuron

Question 17

Briefly explain synaptic transmission

Answer 17

An action potential/ nerve impulse travels down the presynaptic neuron’s axon. This causes vesicles to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters detected at the post synaptic neuron’s receptor sites influence if the post synaptic neuron fires.

Question 18

What are neurotransmitters? What are the two types?

Answer 18

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that work in the synaptic cleft. Neurotransmitters can be inhibitory (ie Serotonin) making post synaptic neurones less likely to fire (ie Dopamine) making post synaptic neurones more likely to fire an impulse

Question 19

Explain summation

Answer 19

Summation is the net effect of inhibitory and excitatory influences on the post synaptic neuron results in it being more or less likely to fire.

Question 20

If the net effect is _________ the neuron will be more likely to fire

Answer 20

excitatory

Question 21

If the net effect is _________ the neuron will be more likely to fire

Answer 21

inhibitory

Question 22

What effect to re-uptake inhibitors have?

Answer 22

Drugs often work by influencing the re-uptake system. For example, re-uptake inhibitors like SSRIs keep serotonin in the synaptic cleft

Question 23

What is the nervous system?

Answer 23

The collection of nerve cells across the body that sends electrical messages

Question 24

What is the peripheral nervous system?

Answer 24

Information from the senses across the body to the brain, decisions from the brain to the body

Question 25

What is the central nervous system?

Answer 25

Consists of the brain and spinal cord. Receives information from the PNS, processes and makes decisions.

Question 26

Brain stem function

Answer 26

Regulates basic functions such as heart rate, breathing, sleeping and eating. Connects brain to the spine and rest of the body.

Question 27

Cerebellum function

Answer 27

Receives information from sensory systems, spinal cord and other parts of the brain, regulates motor movements and balance

Question 28

What is the cerebral cortex?

Answer 28

Largest area of the brain, outer skin (2.5mm) of brain folded to increase surface area. Contains cell bodies of neurones (grey matter). Memory, attention, perception, cognition, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.

Question 29

Occipital lobe function

Answer 29

Processes visual stimuli, colour, shape, orientation

Question 30

Parietal lobe function

Answer 30

Regulates sensory information from across the body and the manipulation of objects

Question 31

Temporal lobe function

Answer 31

Auditory perception (hearing), processing noise into words (Speech comprehension). Declarative memory storage (facts)

Question 32

Frontal lobe function

Answer 32

Predicts future consequences, over rides socially unacceptable behaviours. Decides appropriate behaviours (conscience)

Question 33

Is biospsych deterministic or free will?

Answer 33

Biological determinsim. The idea that our behaviour is causally driven by internal natural processes and is predictable, therefore we do not have the free will to control our actions.

Question 34

Is biopsych reductionist or holistic?

Answer 34

Biological reductionism. The biological approach attempts to reduce the explanation for complex behaviours to simple biological elements. This is based on the scientific principle of parsimony, that complex phemomena should be explained in the simplest way possible.

Question 35

Is biopsych nature or nurture?

Answer 35

Nature and nurture. Approach fully supports the idea that behaviour is due to natural processes such as the influence of genes, neurotransmitters and brain structure. Minimises the role of the environment such as cultural or social learning pressures on behaviour.

Question 36

Is biospych ideographic or nomothetic?

Answer 36

Both. The biological approach takes a quantitative scientific approach of studying large groups of people in an attempt to form general laws of behaviour that can apply across populations. This has led to effective drug treatments.

Question 37

Strengths of biological approach?

Answer 37

+ Objective scientific measurements (i.e neurotransmitter levels) increasing validity of findings

+ Effectiveness of drugs created from the biological approach have helped people

+ Large number of empirical studies to back up biological theories

Question 38

Limitations of biological approach?

Answer 38

• Completely mechanistic, no consideration of internal mental processes (cognitions)